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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1951)}}
'''Steve Nelson''' (born [[1951]]) was a [[American football|football]] player for the [[New England Patriots]] who played [[linebacker]] and wore number 57 (now retired). He played there from [[1974]]–[[1987]] and missed only three games during that period. Nelson was a [[Pro Bowl]] selection three times in [[1980]], [[1984]], and [[1985]]. Nelson is credited with helping the Patriots get to a Super Bowl appearance in 1985. He is currently the Athletic Director and Head Coach at [[Curry College]], and an analyst for [[WCVB]] Channel 5's New England Patriot games. He can also be heard on Sports Radio [[WEEI]]'s 850 AM ''Big Show''.
{{For|the cornerback born 1993|Steven Nelson}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Steve Nelson
|image=Steve Nelson (18005928355) (cropped).jpg
|caption=Nelson in 2015
|number=57
|position=[[Linebacker]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1951|4|26|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Farmington, Minnesota]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=2
|weight_lbs=230
|high_school=[[Anoka High School|Anoka]] {{nowrap|([[Anoka, Minnesota]])}}
|college=[[North Dakota State Bison football|North Dakota State]]
|draftyear=1974
|draftround=2
|draftpick=34
|pastteams=
* [[New England Patriots]] ({{NFL Year|1974}}–{{NFL Year|1987}})
| pastcoaching =
* [[Curry Colonels football|Curry]] (1998–2005)<br>Head coach
|highlights=
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1980 All-Pro Team|1980]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]])
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1981 Pro Bowl|1980]], [[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]], [[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]])
* [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots All-1970s Team]]
* [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots All-1980s Team]]
* [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team]]
* [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team]]
* [[New England Patriots#Patriots Hall of Fame|New England Patriots Hall of Fame]]
* [[New England Patriots#Retired numbers|New England Patriots No. 57]] retired
|statlabel1=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
|statvalue1=19.5
|statlabel2=[[Interception|Interceptions]]
|statvalue2=17
|statlabel3=[[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
|statvalue3=16
|pfr=NelsSt00
}}


'''Steven Lee Nelson''' (born April 26, 1951) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player and high school coach. He played as a [[linebacker]] for the [[New England Patriots]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1974 to 1987. He served as the head coach at [[Curry College]] in [[Milton, Massachusetts]] from 1998 to 2005, compiling a record of 64–22.
His brother Dave was a former [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]] High School Coach and now a head coach at [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]] High school. Both high schools are in [[Minnesota]].


Nelson was a three-sport athlete at [[Anoka High School]], in [[Anoka, Minnesota]], earning letters in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, Nelson was selected as captain, team MVP and to the all-state team in football. Nelson went on to college at [[North Dakota State University]] and graduated in 1974 after being named a two-time All-American, team captain and MVP in football.<ref name="anoka.k12.mn.us">{{cite web |url=http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php |title=Anoka-Hennepin School Dist 11 - A-H Home |access-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008213501/http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php |archive-date=October 8, 2010 }}</ref>
Needless to say, Steve is an [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]] High School graduate (also a Minnesota school). He attended [[North Dakota State University]].

He was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the [[1974 NFL draft]]. He was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] three times in 1980, 1984, and 1985 and his #57 jersey was retired by the Patriots. He is credited with helping the Patriots reach [[Super Bowl XX]] versus the [[Chicago Bears]].

Nelson played linebacker for the Patriots from 1974 to 1987 and became the nucleus of the Patriots defense. Nelson was voted to three Pro Bowls and recorded more than 100 tackles nine times during his career. He led the Patriots in tackles in eight of his 14 seasons, including an unofficial team record of 207 in 1984. He finished his career with 1,776 total tackles. After retirement, he coached for the Patriots and later built Curry College into a perennial power. In 1993, Nelson was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

More recently, Nelson has become a familiar football analyst on local television and radio. He currently works as a business development executive for Lighthouse Computer Services, Inc., a Lincoln, RI-based technology company. In September 2011, Nelson was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Middleboro, MA with his wife Angela and his five daughters, Cameron, Caitlin, Casey, Kelli, and Grace. <ref name="anoka.k12.mn.us" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/local/129276683.html |title=Anoka's Hall of Fame missing two big names: Keillor and Bachmann &#124; StarTribune.com |website=[[Star Tribune]] |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018131439/http://www.startribune.com/local/129276683.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Curry Colonels football|Curry Colonels]]
| conf = [[Commonwealth Coast Football|New England Football Conference / Commonwealth Coast Football]]
| startyear = 1998
| endyear = 2005
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1998 NCAA Division III football season|1998]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(Blue)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1999 NCAA Division III football season|1999]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 7–3
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 2nd <small>(Blue)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2000 NCAA Division III football season|2000]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 3–3
| confstanding = T–4th <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2001 NCAA Division III football season|2001]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 4–1
| confstanding = 2nd <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2002 NCAA Division III football season|2002]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 7–3
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = T–2nd <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[2003 NCAA Division III football season|2003]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 11–1
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname = [[NCAA Division III Football Championship|NCAA Division III First Round]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[2004 NCAA Division III football season|2004]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = T–1st <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname = [[NCAA Division III Football Championship|NCAA Division III First Round]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[2005 NCAA Division III football season|2005]]
| name = Curry
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st <small>(Boyd)</small>
| bowlname = [[NCAA Division III Football Championship|NCAA Division III First Round]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Curry
| overall = 64–22
| confrecord = 36–10
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 64–22
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}

==See also==
* [[Snowplow Game]] (game ball given to Nelson)

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.gobison.com/sports/football/roster/steve-nelson/14008 North Dakota State Bison bio]
*[http://footballcamp.homestead.com/Nelson.html MasterMessage: Steve Nelson]
* [https://www.patriotshalloffame.com/hall_of_famer/steve-nelson/ New England Patriots bio]
*[http://rjccourt85.tripod.com/patshof.html Rob's American Football Page: Patriot Hall of Fame]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=steve-nelson |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=N/NelsSt00 |rotoworld= }}
*[http://www.curry.edu/Athletics/Mens+Sports/Football/Coach+Profile.htm Curry College, Steve Nelson Profile]

{{Patriots1974DraftPicks}}
{{Patriots1970s}}
{{Patriots1980s}}
{{Patriots35th}}
{{Patriots50th}}
{{PatriotsHOF}}
{{New England Patriots retired numbers}}
{{Curry Colonels football coach navbox}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Steve}}
{{linebacker-stub}}
[[Category:1951 births|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:American football linebackers|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:AFC Pro Bowl players|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:American sports announcers]]
[[Category:Sports announcers|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:Curry Colonels athletic directors]]
[[Category:North Dakota State Bison football players|Nelson, Steve]]
[[Category:Curry Colonels football coaches]]
[[Category:New England Patriots coaches]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players]]
[[Category:North Dakota State Bison football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Anoka High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Anoka, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Anoka County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:People from Farmington, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dakota County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:National Football League players with retired numbers]]

Latest revision as of 04:12, 12 October 2024

For the cornerback born 1993, see Steven Nelson.

Steve Nelson
refer to caption
Nelson in 2015
No. 57
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1951-04-26) April 26, 1951 (age 73)
Farmington, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Anoka (Anoka, Minnesota)
College:North Dakota State
NFL draft:1974 / round: 2 / pick: 34
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Curry (1998–2005)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:19.5
Interceptions:17
Fumble recoveries:16
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Steven Lee Nelson (born April 26, 1951) is an American former professional football player and high school coach. He played as a linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1987. He served as the head coach at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts from 1998 to 2005, compiling a record of 64–22.

Nelson was a three-sport athlete at Anoka High School, in Anoka, Minnesota, earning letters in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, Nelson was selected as captain, team MVP and to the all-state team in football. Nelson went on to college at North Dakota State University and graduated in 1974 after being named a two-time All-American, team captain and MVP in football.[1]

He was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1974 NFL draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times in 1980, 1984, and 1985 and his #57 jersey was retired by the Patriots. He is credited with helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl XX versus the Chicago Bears.

Nelson played linebacker for the Patriots from 1974 to 1987 and became the nucleus of the Patriots defense. Nelson was voted to three Pro Bowls and recorded more than 100 tackles nine times during his career. He led the Patriots in tackles in eight of his 14 seasons, including an unofficial team record of 207 in 1984. He finished his career with 1,776 total tackles. After retirement, he coached for the Patriots and later built Curry College into a perennial power. In 1993, Nelson was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

More recently, Nelson has become a familiar football analyst on local television and radio. He currently works as a business development executive for Lighthouse Computer Services, Inc., a Lincoln, RI-based technology company. In September 2011, Nelson was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Middleboro, MA with his wife Angela and his five daughters, Cameron, Caitlin, Casey, Kelli, and Grace. [1][2]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Curry Colonels (New England Football Conference / Commonwealth Coast Football) (1998–2005)
1998 Curry 6–4 4–2 3rd (Blue)
1999 Curry 7–3 5–1 2nd (Blue)
2000 Curry 6–4 3–3 T–4th (Boyd)
2001 Curry 9–2 4–1 2nd (Boyd)
2002 Curry 7–3 3–2 T–2nd (Boyd)
2003 Curry 11–1 6–0 1st (Boyd) L NCAA Division III First Round
2004 Curry 9–2 5–1 T–1st (Boyd) L NCAA Division III First Round
2005 Curry 9–3 6–0 1st (Boyd) L NCAA Division III First Round
Curry: 64–22 36–10
Total: 64–22
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Anoka-Hennepin School Dist 11 - A-H Home". Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  2. ^ "Anoka's Hall of Fame missing two big names: Keillor and Bachmann | StarTribune.com". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
[edit]
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